Kanebo recalls 54 products over skin spots

Kanebo Cosmetics Inc. said Thursday it is recalling 54 of its products, including face lotions and emulsions, after confirming that some users’ skin was marked with patches of white.

The products, including the Kanebo Blanshir Superior and White Deep series of cosmetics, use a whitening chemical substance called 4-(4-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone, which Kanebo has named Rhododenol, the company said in a press release.

Kanebo and its subsidiaries, Lissage Ltd. and e’quipe Ltd., have been marketing cosmetics that use the ingredient as an active substance since 2008 at department stores and other retail outlets, Kanebo said, adding they have been used by 250,000 women.

A combined 4.36 million units of these products have since been shipped, including 450,000 units that may still be in use. It will also recall products on sale abroad. A total of 370,000 items have been sent to overseas markets but at present it plans only to recall items that are on sale.

Never thought I’d see the day where an Asian cosmetic product would be pulled for *causing* whitening. Isn’t that what they’re all aiming for with the sunbrellas, black sleeves, ridiculous whitening supplements, creams, and all that? I’d be more surprised that the stuff isn’t absolutely flying off the shelves at breakneck speeds.